Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it attaches to addressing the issue of underage drinking.

Rhona Brankin: Tackling harmful drinking by children and young people through a wide range of preventative, educational and other measures is a key priority under the Executive’s national Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems. Current activity will be further reinforced by the proposed new liquor licensing arrangements to be introduced under the Licensing Bill which we are bringing forward early next year. Central to this will be the requirement for all licensed premises to operate on a "no proof, no sale" system.

Dyslexia

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in schools to help people who have dyslexia.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has a range of measures in place to support education authorities working with pupils with dyslexia. This includes the provision of £8.4 million in 2004-05 to education authorities for the training and development of staff working with pupils with additional support needs, including dyslexia.

Education

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures can be put in place to improve school discipline.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is piloting a range of approaches that education authorities and schools may take forward to improve behaviour in schools.

Education

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation it is carrying out of the delivery of its youth music initiative in schools.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Arts Council is in the process of producing an Interim Operational Review, and recommendations for the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) Reference Group. This review is due for completion in early 2005.

  The YMI Reference Group intends to commission independent research on the full three years of the Initiative (2003-04 to 2005-06). Work on the evaluation will begin in 2005.

  In addition, each project funded under the YMI is required to carry out self-evaluation. Guidance will be given to organisers on an appropriate framework for such evaluation.

Energy

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will promote the development of marine energy.

Mr Jim Wallace: We are continuing to work with our investment partners to extend and enhance the role of the Marine Energy Centre on Orkney, following on from our initial £2 million investment. We have also recently announced that we will conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment of Scotland’s coastline, an important step which has been warmly welcomed by developers.

Energy

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidies it will provide over the next three years to the renewable energy sector and what information it has in respect of equivalent figures for Her Majesty’s Government.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive will invest £12 million through its renewable energy budget over the next three years. We will also invest £22 million over the next three years through our Green Jobs fund, part of which will support opportunities for Scottish renewable energy businesses.

  The Department for Trade and Industry have announced around £500 million funding between 2002 and 2008 for emerging renewable and low carbon technologies, from which Scotland will be eligible to benefit.

Energy

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average (a) unit cost of electricity generated and (b) public subsidy per unit is of electricity produced by (i) renewable sources, (ii) nuclear plants and (iii) fossil fuels.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available. The Department of Trade and Industry collect and publish information on generation output, but not on the unit costs of generation.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action local authorities can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ross Finnie: It is for local authorities to determine what action they take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Executive provides support for a range of schemes which can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including measures such as the public sector energy efficiency scheme.

Environment

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent companies found to be causing environmental pollution from avoiding Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) enforcement notices by making multiple appeals while continuing to pollute the environment.

Lewis Macdonald: An appeal against an enforcement notice issued by SEPA does not automatically suspend the operation of the notice as different arrangements apply according to the type of notice issued. It is for SEPA to decide, in accordance with the relevant legislation, whether to take immediate enforcement action or to enter into discussions with the company to agree how best to tackle the problem.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the availability and nature of counselling services in each NHS board area will be examined as part of its review of the overall provision of NHS-funded infertility treatment.

Rhona Brankin: It is mandatory under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 that couples undergoing assisted conception treatments regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), as provided in the four Scottish infertility tertiary referral centres, are offered appropriate, impartial counselling. As such it is for the HFEA to monitor this aspect of infertility care in Scotland.

Health

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote healthy living and reduce childhood obesity.

Rhona Brankin: Our health improvement programme focuses strongly on improving diet for all age groups, starting with children, and raising physical activity levels – a combined approach endorsed by the World Health Authority. Action is being taken for example through nutrient defined school meals, and recruitment of 620 Active School co-ordinators in addition to a range of measures to improve access to healthy food and increase opportunities for physical activity in schools, workplaces, homes and communities. Our healthy living campaign is the public face of our health promotion efforts covering both diet and physical activity and highlighting obesity.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being put in place to prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infections.

Mr Andy Kerr: Already, the level of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus  (MRSA) infection has begun to stabilise and there are signs pointing to its possible reduction.

  Combating healthcare-associated infection is a major priority for the Executive and the NHS. A substantial programme is in place, working at several levels, and managed with the advice of the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force. National cleaning specifications have been set, an additional 137 infection control nurses recruited and recruitment and training of 3,500 cleanliness champions is underway. In addition, a code of practice for local management of hygiene and infection control has been put in place, the first in the UK.

  There is still more that we can do and further initiatives are under consideration for implementation in the new year.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders have been imprisoned as a result of fine defaults and how many nights were spent in prison by (a) male, (b) female, (c) youth and (d) adult fine defaulters in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The available information is given in tables 29, 29A, 29B, 32, 32A and 32B of Prison Statistics Scotland, 2003 published by the Scottish Executive in August 2004, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 33610).

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information or reports it or its agencies have regarding the relationship between poverty and imprisonment; whether such information is, or will be, published, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Cathy Jamieson: A report Reducing re-offending by ex-prisoners (Social Exclusion Unit, London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) was published in July 2002 Following publication of that report, the Scottish Prison Service commissioned similar work to be undertaken based on Scottish data. Delivery of the report is expected by the end of the year.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what categories of offences have been dealt with by way of a fixed penalty or fiscal fine in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) offence and (b) sheriff court.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information on police conditional offers of fixed penalties for moving vehicle offences and police fixed penalty notices for stationary vehicle offences is given in the following tables. The information held by Crown Office in respect of fiscal fines records detailed charge codes, of which there are some 3,000 active codes, rather than generalised offence categories. This information cannot be readily extracted from the Crown Office database.

  Police Conditional Offers of Fixed Penalties for Moving Vehicle Offences, by Type of Offence and Police Force Area, 1999-2002

  

Offence and Police Force Area
19992
20002
20013
20023


Speeding restricted areas
 


Central
n/a
3,706
4,598
3,997


Dumfries and Galloway
n/a
1,470
1,489
915


Fife
n/a
4,103
3,939
8,388


Grampian
n/a
4,949
3,654
4,994


Lothian and Borders
n/a
8,780
10,864
8,854


Northern
n/a
1,459
986
1,150


Strathclyde
n/a
32,314
41,663
33,345


Tayside
n/a
2,372
3,818
2,039


Scotland
n/a
59,153
71,011
63,682


Speeding other
 


Central
n/a
1,102
764
1,005


Dumfries and Galloway
n/a
5,663
5,080
4,494


Fife
n/a
558
549
546


Grampian
n/a
4,277
3,447
2,801


Lothian and Borders
n/a
11,479
8,039
5,800


Northern
n/a
2,217
1,087
1,071


Strathclyde
n/a
9,157
5,452
12,386


Tayside
n/a
8,355
13,468
13,012


Scotland
n/a
42,808
37,886
41,115


Traffic direction offences
 


Central
n/a
115
133
151


Dumfries and Galloway
n/a
143
114
90


Fife
n/a
160
160
219


Grampian
n/a
555
412
510


Lothian and Borders
n/a
3,084
3,559
4,594


Northern
n/a
269
76
57


Strathclyde
n/a
7,663
9,162
10,150


Tayside
n/a
427
751
500


Scotland
n/a
12,416
14,367
16,271


Other offences1
 


Central
n/a
2,820
2,655
2,912


Dumfries and Galloway
n/a
593
347
451


Fife
n/a
2,255
1,959
2,253


Grampian
n/a
2,813
2,631
2,321


Lothian and Borders
n/a
8,695
7,938
7,326


Northern
n/a
2,396
948
1,112


Strathclyde
n/a
24,321
29,309
22,234


Tayside
n/a
1,512
6,133
1,683


Scotland
n/a
45,405
51,920
40,292


All offences
 


Central
11,296
7,743
8,150
8,065


Dumfries and Galloway
9,131
7,869
7,030
5,950


Fife
7,297
7,076
6,607
11,406


Grampian
13,145
12,594
10,144
10,626


Lothian and Borders
28,826
32,038
30,400
26,574


Northern
6,341
6,341
3,097
3,390


Strathclyde
80,162
73,455
85,586
78,115


Tayside
12,000
12,666
24,170
17,234


Scotland
168,198
159,782
175,184
161,360



  Notes:

  1. Includes construction and use offences, driving licence offences and other offences.

  2. Estimated data for Central and Northern.

  3. Estimated data for Northern.

  Police Fixed Penalties for Stationary Vehicle Offences, by Type of Offence and Police Force Area, 1999-2002

  

Offence and police force area
19992
20002
20012
20022


Parking and waiting offences
 


Central
10,833
8,527
9,874
9,095


Dumfries and Galloway
3,410
3,050
3,069
2,408


Fife
8,371
5,237
6,253
5,373


Grampian
28,143
22,028
16,569
14,373


Lothian and Borders
20,529
26,443
26,066
19,819


Northern
9,146
7,932
6,449
5,318


Strathclyde
89,100
30,659
32,813
38,763


Tayside
20,081
18,294
15,399
12,790


Scotland
189,613
122,170
116,492
107,939


Failing to display a valid excise licence
 


Central
3,488
3,023
3,603
2,766


Dumfries and Galloway
2,166
2,159
1,934
2,004


Fife
6,026
6,203
6,655
5,986


Grampian
6,349
7,775
6,855
4,233


Lothian and Borders
9,239
8,353
9,415
10,018


Northern
2,094
2,094
1,704
1,405


Strathclyde
39,069
27,061
26,024
23,836


Tayside
5,754
6,763
6,168
5,767


Scotland
74,185
63,431
62,358
56,015


All offences1
 


Central
14,321
11,550
13,477
11,861


Dumfries and Galloway
5,762
5,422
5,266
4,414


Fife
14,397
11,440
12,908
11,359


Grampian
34,500
29,872
23,459
18,643


Lothian and Borders
36,729
34,837
35,835
29,837


Northern
11,296
10,082
8,194
6,757


Strathclyde
153,226
57,721
58,841
62,601


Tayside
26,137
25,063
21,573
18,565


Scotland
296,368
185,987
179,553
164,037



  Notes:

  1. Totals include a small number of other offences.

  2. Estimated data for Northern

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 will still come into force in April 2005.

Rhona Brankin: Yes. The implementation date is as announced by my predecessor – April 2005.

  I am, however, very aware that a successful roll-out of the act is essential if we are to build confidence in the new arrangements. Since taking up my portfolio I have been reviewing the state of readiness for implementation with my officials and also less formally during introductory meetings with key stakeholders. It is clear that while stakeholders are keen for the new act to come into force they are also want it to work effectively, particularly the tribunal. Significant progress has been made over the past twelve months with the implementation. But as with any large project there continue to be risks in some areas which have the potential to adversely affect a successful implementation. I am therefore keeping the state of readiness for the act under close review.

Migration

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have migrated from each local authority area to the rest of the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) reason for migration, (b) age, (c) gender and (d) region of the United Kingdom to which they migrated.

Tavish Scott: This information, provided in the following table, is only available for the year preceding the last Census, in 2001. The Census does not ask about the reason for migration.

  Number of Persons Living in Rest of UK (outwith Scotland) who Lived in Scotland One Year Before the 2001 Census, Breakdown by Local Authority of Previous Residence and Age Group

  

 
0-15
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65 & over
Total


Aberdeen City 
286
862
977
296
156
65
39
2,681


Aberdeenshire 
402
456
377
283
199
112
75
1,904


Angus 
166
257
249
121
46
35
44
918


Argyll and Bute 
313
282
297
244
112
86
95
1,429


Clackmannanshire 
58
77
66
35
12
12
5
265


Dumfries and Galloway 
303
485
367
223
148
92
126
1,744


Dundee City 
168
532
397
127
52
26
40
1,342


East Ayrshire 
126
232
222
81
57
29
25
772


East Dunbartonshire 
104
256
189
87
64
15
32
747


East Lothian 
118
204
145
79
44
19
19
628


East Renfrewshire 
115
229
182
75
41
18
24
684


Edinburgh, City of 
832
3,145
2,974
814
295
160
186
8,406


Eilean Siar 
42
48
50
45
26
10
9
230


Falkirk 
101
207
178
95
40
17
27
665


Fife 
558
1,101
815
416
188
88
103
3,269


Glasgow City 
658
1,532
1,956
608
231
129
185
5,299


Highland 
335
452
463
255
175
130
115
1,925


Inverclyde 
69
113
102
61
25
19
14
403


Midlothian 
120
133
185
53
35
14
26
566


Moray 
473
398
553
318
96
48
34
1,920


North Ayrshire 
140
276
195
93
66
45
42
857


North Lanarkshire 
313
379
406
193
90
51
39
1,471


Orkney Islands 
20
43
32
30
24
16
22
187


Perth and Kinross 
274
440
372
241
118
78
82
1,605


Renfrewshire 
141
338
300
130
85
32
50
1,076


Scottish Borders 
252
334
293
173
124
74
87
1,337


Shetland Islands 
73
61
89
52
30
14
10
329


South Ayrshire 
162
267
262
141
72
31
56
991


South Lanarkshire 
299
446
426
270
98
62
74
1,675


Stirling 
118
374
254
124
74
39
21
1,004


West Dunbartonshire
74
134
124
66
42
16
29
485


West Lothian
198
197
244
156
82
36
39
952


Total
7,411
14,290
13,741
5,985
2,947
1,618
1,774
47,766



  Number of Persons Living in Rest of UK (outwith Scotland) who Lived in Scotland One Year Before the 2001 Census, Breakdown by Local Authority of Previous Residence and Gender

  

 
Male
Female
Total


Aberdeen City 
1,384
1,297
2,681


Aberdeenshire 
968
936
1,904


Angus 
510
408
918


Argyll and Bute 
712
717
1,429


Clackmannanshire 
140
125
265


Dumfries and Galloway 
919
825
1,744


Dundee City 
697
645
1,342


East Ayrshire 
380
392
772


East Dunbartonshire 
384
363
747


East Lothian 
311
317
628


East Renfrewshire 
346
338
684


Edinburgh, City of 
4,270
4,136
8,406


Eilean Siar 
135
95
230


Falkirk 
359
306
665


Fife 
1,700
1,569
3,269


Glasgow City 
2,554
2,745
5,299


Highland 
1,016
909
1,925


Inverclyde 
205
198
403


Midlothian 
314
252
566


Moray 
1,094
826
1,920


North Ayrshire 
436
421
857


North Lanarkshire 
805
666
1,471


Orkney Islands 
101
86
187


Perth and Kinross 
844
761
1,605


Renfrewshire 
571
505
1,076


Scottish Borders 
659
678
1,337


Shetland Islands 
173
156
329


South Ayrshire 
504
487
991


South Lanarkshire 
861
814
1,675


Stirling 
505
499
1,004


West Dunbartonshire
240
245
485


West Lothian
477
475
952


Total
24,574
23,192
47,766



  Number of Persons Living in Rest of UK (Outwith Scotland) who Lived in Scotland One Year Before the 2001 Census, Breakdown by Local Authority of Previous Residence and Region of Residence at Census Time (Part 1)

  

 
North East
North West
Yorkshire & the Humber
East Midlands
West Midlands
East


Aberdeen City 
181
322
230
141
103
245


Aberdeenshire 
180
258
220
132
104
192


Angus 
60
96
85
60
38
73


Argyll and Bute 
98
224
118
81
67
147


Clackmannanshire 
17
31
42
21
17
12


Dumfries and Galloway 
173
520
164
133
101
100


Dundee City 
123
141
163
87
92
105


East Ayrshire 
47
81
70
55
63
72


East Dunbartonshire 
41
97
63
31
45
90


East Lothian 
100
69
64
30
42
75


East Renfrewshire 
22
84
54
34
45
69


Edinburgh, City of 
581
753
709
307
349
559


Eilean Siar 
17
43
15
13
10
20


Falkirk 
61
95
77
45
28
78


Fife 
202
464
367
225
230
305


Glasgow City 
336
643
435
320
333
427


Highland 
119
352
229
141
94
191


Inverclyde 
33
65
36
23
17
29


Midlothian 
68
81
75
24
29
22


Moray 
74
125
119
218
241
428


North Ayrshire 
53
128
79
50
74
67


North Lanarkshire 
101
217
161
130
71
103


Orkney Islands 
12
18
33
14
8
20


Perth and Kinross 
126
204
159
74
114
184


Renfrewshire 
53
155
66
56
51
113


Scottish Borders 
382
153
135
83
46
119


Shetland Islands 
32
27
22
46
13
12


South Ayrshire 
53
138
95
42
59
94


South Lanarkshire 
119
255
185
99
153
163


Stirling 
77
121
97
95
73
60


West Dunbartonshire
26
90
31
36
26
50


West Lothian
63
118
84
133
88
64


Total
3,630
6,168
4,482
2,979
2,824
4,288



  Number of Persons Living in Rest of UK (Outwith Scotland) who Lived in Scotland One Year Before the 2001 Census, Breakdown by Local Authority of Previous Residence and Region of Residence at Census Time (Part 2)

  

 
London
South East
South West
Northern Ireland
Wales
Total


Aberdeen City 
647
460
215
80
57
2,681


Aberdeenshire 
156
375
171
42
74
1,904


Angus 
122
123
202
36
23
918


Argyll and Bute 
87
252
275
28
52
1,429


Clackmannanshire 
30
53
22
9
11
265


Dumfries and Galloway 
136
196
138
48
35
1,744


Dundee City 
216
164
97
126
28
1,342


East Ayrshire 
141
104
56
35
48
772


East Dunbartonshire 
153
153
52
11
11
747


East Lothian 
59
81
61
11
36
628


East Renfrewshire 
158
154
47
8
9
684


Edinburgh, City of 
2,239
1,182
534
1,054
139
8,406


Eilean Siar 
31
29
38
4
10
230


Falkirk 
61
115
36
48
21
665


Fife 
363
579
329
104
101
3,269


Glasgow City 
1,274
764
359
276
132
5,299


Highland 
160
304
184
52
99
1,925


Inverclyde 
61
67
33
21
18
403


Midlothian 
59
81
42
60
25
566


Moray 
80
273
224
70
68
1,920


North Ayrshire 
97
145
95
36
33
857


North Lanarkshire 
162
267
112
83
64
1,471


Orkney Islands 
11
14
21
9
27
187


Perth and Kinross 
172
305
156
41
70
1,605


Renfrewshire 
201
193
75
94
19
1,076


Scottish Borders 
83
147
122
13
54
1,337


Shetland Islands 
16
73
57
17
14
329


South Ayrshire 
104
158
148
50
50
991


South Lanarkshire 
184
294
126
58
39
1,675


Stirling 
140
183
74
63
21
1,004


West Dunbartonshire
44
77
55
34
16
485


West Lothian
82
160
72
51
37
952


Total
7,529
7,525
4,228
2,672
1,441
47,766

Migration

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who migrated from each local authority area to the rest of the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years were (a) in employment, (b) unemployed and (c) economically inactive at the time of migration.

Tavish Scott: This information, provided in the following table, is only available for the year preceding the last Census, in 2001.

  Number of Persons Living in Rest of UK (Outwith Scotland) who Lived in Scotland One Year Before the 2001 Census, Breakdown by Local Authority of Previous Residence and Employment Status

  

 
Working
Unemployed
No Recorded Economic Activity
Total


Aberdeen City 
1,721
137
823
2,681


Aberdeenshire 
940
98
866
1,904


Angus 
538
47
333
918


Argyll and Bute 
689
81
659
1,429


Clackmannanshire 
128
19
118
265


Dumfries and Galloway 
881
104
759
1,744


Dundee City 
790
77
475
1,342


East Ayrshire 
429
38
305
772


East Dunbartonshire 
443
27
277
747


East Lothian 
316
21
291
628


East Renfrewshire 
391
34
259
684


Edinburgh, City of 
5,362
537
2,507
8,406


Eilean Siar 
114
10
106
230


Falkirk 
395
38
232
665


Fife 
1,800
169
1,300
3,269


Glasgow City 
3,181
315
1,803
5,299


Highland 
994
118
813
1,925


Inverclyde 
208
30
165
403


Midlothian 
291
31
244
566


Moray 
1,078
74
768
1,920


North Ayrshire 
474
47
336
857


North Lanarkshire 
808
70
593
1,471


Orkney Islands 
83
12
92
187


Perth and Kinross 
903
61
641
1,605


Renfrewshire 
682
50
344
1,076


Scottish Borders 
685
85
567
1,337


Shetland Islands 
188
14
127
329


South Ayrshire 
532
60
399
991


South Lanarkshire 
950
86
639
1,675


Stirling 
615
51
338
1,004


West Dunbartonshire
279
29
177
485


West Lothian
490
63
399
952


Total
27,378
2,633
17,755
47,766

NHS Complaints

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12101 by Mr Andy Kerr on 23 November 2004, what action it has taken in response to the detailed complaints within the correspondence.

Mr Andy Kerr: On receipt of your letter of 21 March 2002, when you wrote as the Secretary of the North Glasgow Hospitals Branch of UNISON, the Executive contacted the North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust and heard that that you had visited the Glasgow Royal Infirmary with Alan Boyter, Director of Human Resources to examine the areas of concern. Mr Boyter wrote to you on 5 March 2002 confirming that three rapid response teams had been established and detailing action taken by the Trust on specific issues.

  In August this year the Chair of NHS Greater Glasgow gave a personal assurance to ministers that he would keep cleanliness and infection rates under review. I pay tribute to the staff of the NHS, and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in particular, who are working hard to improve cleanliness and infection rates – issues to which I give very high priority.

NHS Funding

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering writing off NHS Argyll and Clyde’s debt.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is, of course, unacceptable for NHS boards to over spend against their budgets. This is taxpayer’s money and the board need to account for it properly.

  The Executive has not made any assurances that we will write off NHS Argyll and Clyde’s deficit. We have, however, given assurances that bills will be paid and the staff will be there to provide the service. In other words, patients in the Argyll and Clyde area can be reassured that necessary health care provision will continue and that the services they rely on will be there for them.

  I am currently looking carefully at NHS Argyll and Clyde’s financial position and structural issues, and will make a decision with regard to these in due course.

NHS Staff

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the shortage of consultants in the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: We continue to build capacity in the medical staff group. NHS consultant numbers have increased by 307 between 2000 and 2003, and continue to rise.

  A number of measures are being taken to address the recruitment and retention of doctors including a review of succession planning and career development structures, improvement of the retention of Specialist Registrars for consultant jobs within NHS Scotland, investigation and costing of the scope for international recruitment, as well as a website to provide a one-stop-shop to attract and recruit consultants, as part of "Careers for Health".

NHS Waiting Times

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address out-patient waiting times.

Mr Andy Kerr: We are committed to ensuring that by the end of next year no patient will wait more than 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant, following GP referral.

  I know that waiting times for out-patient appointments are too long and more needs to be done to reduce these lengthy waits. I intend to address this issue head on and will set out our proposals for NHS waiting to Parliament next week.

People with Disabilities

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what publicity and other materials are available for people with disabilities.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive takes barriers to communication for disabled people seriously and gives due consideration to providing publicity and other materials in alternative formats on request e.g. Braille, large print, audio cassette, easy read and electronic versions. Where a request is not deemed feasible an alternative route is considered, such as providing a British Sign Language interpreter or meeting with officials.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it first outlined its commitment to developing a National Planning Policy Guideline for west Edinburgh.

Johann Lamont: Scottish ministers announced a commitment to prepare the West Edinburgh Planning Framework on 5 March 2002.

Poverty

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its Closing the Opportunity Gap targets are.

Malcolm Chisholm: We have chosen 10 Closing the Opportunity Gap targets to drive action to tackle poverty and deprivation in Scotland and to build on the progress made towards our Social Justice Milestones.

  The targets that we have chosen are:

  Target A: Reduce the number of workless people dependent on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits in Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, Dundee, and West Dunbartonshire by 2007 and further by 2010.

  Target B: Reduce the proportion of 16 to 19-year-olds who are not in education training or employment by 2008.

  Target C: Public sector and large employers to tackle aspects of in-work poverty by providing employees with the opportunity to develop skills and progress in their career. NHSScotland will set an example by providing 1,000 job opportunities, with support for training and progression once in post, between 2004 and 2006 to people who are currently economically inactive or unemployed.

  Target D: To reduce health inequalities by increasing the rate of improvement for under 75 coronary heart disease mortality and under 75 cancer mortality (1995-2003) for the most deprived communities by 15 per cent by 2008.

  Target E: By 2008, ensure that children and young people who need it have an integrated package of appropriate health, care and education support.

  Target F: Increase the average tariff score of the lowest attaining 20 per cent of S4 pupils by 5 per cent by 2008.

  Target G: By 2007 ensure that at least 50 per cent of all "looked after" young people leaving care have entered education, employment or training.

  Target H: By 2008, improve service delivery in rural areas so that agreed improvements to accessibility and quality are achieved for key services in remote and disadvantaged communities.

  Target J: To promote community regeneration of the most deprived neighbourhoods, through improvements by 2008 in employability, education, health, access to local services, and quality of the local environment.

  Target K: By 2008 increase the availability of appropriate financial services and money advice to disadvantaged communities to reduce their vulnerability to financial exclusion and multiple debts.

  The detail of several targets will be agreed in consultation with key stakeholders:

  For target A, local employment partnerships will be asked to agree the size and nature of the target for their area, by February 2005. For example, the Glasgow Welfare to Work Forum set targets in 2003, to reduce the number of working age people claiming key benefits by 15,000 by the end of 2007 and 30,000 by the end of 2010.

  For target B, as part of our work to develop an employability framework, we will analyse the make-up of the NEET (not in education, employment or training) group and their reasons for disengagement from school, work or further education. We will then specify the level of reduction that we seek to achieve.

  For target H, working with an advisory group of representatives from key delivery agents and rural communities, we will agree the rural areas to be targeted, consult with local communities to identify the key services to be improved, and agree with the relevant community planning partnerships the specific targets for improvements to accessibility and quality to be achieved.

Rail Network

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring that railway stations are accessible.

Mr Jim Wallace: The primary statutory responsibility for access for disabled people rests with the UK Government and is currently being delivered by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). However, the Executive has been working closely with the SRA to provide a more accessible rail transport network in Scotland.

  For example, the new ScotRail franchise includes a £40 million rolling programme of investment throughout the life of the franchise, which includes £20 million scheduled for station upgrades. In planning and delivering these investments, account will be taken of the particular needs of disabled people.

Research

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) basic and (b) applied scientific research it funds, broken down by department and detailing how much funding is provided in each case.

Mr Jim Wallace: The latest data available are for the financial year 2002-03 and are set out in the table:

  Expenditure on Basic and Applied Research Funded by the Scottish Executive Financial Year 2002-03

  

Department
Expenditure £ Millions


Basic Research
Applied Research
Total


Development
0.1
4.3
4.4


Education
0.3
1.2
1.5


Environment and Rural Affairs
15.8
40.5
56.3


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
0
7.3
7.3


Health
0
44.6
44.6


Justice
0
1.3
1.3


Total
16.2
99.2
115.4



  These figures do not include the funding provided by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council for research undertaken in Higher Education Institutions.

Research

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many scientists and technical support staff are employed on (a) basic and (b) applied research programmes funded by it and where these jobs are located.

Mr Jim Wallace: Data are available on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff engaged in Research and Development within the Scottish Executive and its associated agencies. The latest data are for the financial year 2002-03 when there were 1,540 FTE staff. The split between basic and applied research is not collected.

  Staffing figures for research funded by the Scottish Executive but undertaken outside the Executive are not available.

  The breakdown by location is collected for the NUTS2 areas of Scotland and presented in the following table:

  Number of Staff-Employed in Research and Development in the Scottish Executive and its Associated Agencies Financial Year 2002-03

  

Location
No of Staff 
(Full-Time Equivalent)


North East Scotland
554


Eastern Scotland
762


South West Scotland
214


Highlands and Islands
10


Total
1540



  No staff were located outside Scotland.

Residential Care

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority residential homes there are in each local authority area.

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority residential homes there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested is given in the table:

  Local Authority run Care Homes: 1995-2004

  

Local Authority Area
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Aberdeen City
22
20
21
20
20
18
15
14
13
14


Aberdeenshire
18
19
20
20
18
18
21
20
20
21


Angus
12
12
9
8
8
6
6
6
6
6


Argyll and Bute
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9


Clackmannanshire
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2


Dumfries and Galloway
13
13
13
13
2
2
2
2
2
1


Dundee City
21
22
17
18
15
15
10
9
9
10


East Ayrshire
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6


East Dunbartonshire
2
2
2
2
2
1
 
 
 
 


East Lothian
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4


East Renfrewshire
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1


Edinburgh, City of
24
24
23
24
24
23
26
29
29
30


Eilean Siar
16
16
15
15
16
16
14
14
14
14


Falkirk
8
8
8
9
8
8
8
7
7
7


Fife
43
41
43
45
42
49
12
12
12
12


Glasgow, City of
29
29
28
28
27
27
25
24
22
22


Highland
22
22
21
22
23
23
25
24
24
24


Inverclyde
4
4
4
5
5
5
3
2
2
 


Midlothian
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3


Moray
8
8
9
8
7
6
2
2
1
1


North Ayrshire
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8


North Lanarkshire
16
16
15
14
13
13
12
12
12
12


Orkney Islands
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4


Perth and Kinross
12
12
6
6
5
5
4
4
4
4


Renfrewshire
9
9
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
8


Scottish Borders
9
8
8
7
7
7
7
7
7
7


Shetland Islands
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4


South Ayrshire
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
5


South Lanarkshire
17
16
16
15
14
13
12
12
12
11


Stirling
7
8
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4


West Dunbartonshire
10
10
10
9
9
9
8
8
8
8


West Lothian
7
7
7
7
7
7
5
5
5
5


Scotland
378
374
358
356
333
331
276
273
268
267



  Source: 1995-2002 Residential Care Homes Census.

  2003-2004 Scottish Care Homes Census.

  Please note that the data for 1995-2000 is not directly comparable with the data for 2001-04. Since 2002, a total of 52 local authority run care homes have deregistered to become housing support services. These homes have been excluded from the 2001-04 data but are included in earlier years.

Residential Care

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many places are available in local authority residential homes, broken down by local authority area.

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many places have been available in local authority residential homes in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested is given in the table:

  Local Authority run Care Home Places: 1995-2004

  

Local Authority Area
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Aberdeen City
532
472
489
466
462
425
336
317
281
324


Aberdeenshire
414
395
360
367
367
365
381
368
368
364


Angus
260
255
213
211
211
155
155
155
155
154


Argyll and Bute
199
194
194
194
153
145
140
144
144
144


Clackmannanshire
75
34
71
71
71
71
71
52
52
52


Dumfries and Galloway
301
297
297
297
19
19
13
13
13
11


Dundee City
494
495
441
423
328
328
272
220
206
217


East Ayrshire
156
150
128
127
129
128
116
116
116
114


East Dunbartonshire
53
53
53
53
44
14
0
0
0
0


East Lothian
169
169
169
161
148
113
112
111
110
135


East Renfrewshire
44
44
49
49
55
49
49
49
34
34


Edinburgh, City of
719
735
731
747
710
686
784
733
732
751


Eilean Siar
205
196
192
188
191
197
172
174
178
178


Falkirk
226
225
219
199
182
187
179
176
178
178


Fife
548
519
473
474
475
506
349
349
363
371


Glasgow, City of
1,203
1,211
1,198
1,184
1,128
1,062
946
920
886
883


Highland
407
388
377
367
354
342
350
342
345
350


Inverclyde
84
80
80
82
82
81
67
54
54
0


Midlothian
158
160
160
137
127
129
131
126
131
131


Moray
185
183
168
158
148
133
44
44
4
4


North Ayrshire
7
137
137
136
137
136
136
142
142
142


North Lanarkshire
502
502
464
444
412
413
410
408
406
406


Orkney Islands
82
81
81
74
79
84
79
84
89
85


Perth and Kinross
1,280
264
196
196
148
147
144
143
145
145


Renfrewshire
294
289
257
250
252
261
258
257
264
240


Scottish Borders
272
233
231
216
217
204
204
206
213
213


Shetland Islands
79
73
69
82
77
59
56
61
62
62


South Ayrshire
181
178
178
177
176
176
108
120
119
104


South Lanarkshire
514
481
481
469
436
375
366
343
345
335


Stirling
133
170
127
113
107
113
113
74
79
79


West Dunbartonshire
282
274
254
251
252
247
238
232
227
227


West Lothian
229
229
229
229
231
199
156
156
159
156


Scotland
9,421
9,166
8,766
8,592
7,908
7,549
6,935
6,689
6,600
6,589



  Source: 1995-2002 Residential Care Homes Census.

  2003-2004 Scottish Care Homes Census.

  Please note that the data for 1995-2000 is not directly comparable with the data for 2001-04. Since 2002, a total of 52 local authority run care homes have deregistered to become housing support services. These homes have been excluded from the 2001-04 data but are included in earlier years.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the introduction of tolling on new roads.

Mr Jim Wallace: In 1999 the consultation paper Tackling Congestion considered potential road user charging options, including charging on local roads, and charging on the motorway and trunk road network.

  Only powers for a local authority to charge on local roads became part of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001. This includes both new and existing roads.

  Powers exist in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 for the tolling of new roads. The intention to toll a new road must be known early in the development process of that road. There are no current proposals to introduce tolls on any new roads.

Rural Development

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides for farmers seeking to identify new markets for their products.

Ross Finnie: The Executive’s food grant schemes can provide a range of assistance towards market research and consultancy; feasibility studies; salaries of key marketing staff; product development; education; sales visits, and support towards the costs of new buildings and machinery.

Social Work

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance or regulations there are in respect of social workers dealing with children and families and, in particular, on the level at which decisions should be taken.

Peter Peacock: Three volumes of Regulations and Guidance on the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 were published in 1997. They cover:

  Volume 1 – Support and Protection for Children and Their Families.

  Volume 2 – Children Looked After by Local Authorities.

  Volume 3 – Adoption and Parental Responsibilities Orders.

  The statutory duties and responsibilities relevant to social workers under the act fall to local authorities as the statutory body. The majority of the regulations and guidance deal therefore with how the local authority should fulfil these duties. Operational management decisions about the levels at which decisions are taken are a matter for local authorities.

Waste Management

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on increasing recycling of domestic waste.

Ross Finnie: We are providing significant resources through the Strategic Waste Fund to improve recycling and composting rates for municipal waste. Both Audit Scotland and Scottish Environment Protection Agency figures show good progress is being made to increase these rates.